1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Academy for Classical Education
Summer Reading Assignments for Students Entering EIGHTH GRADE
The reading assignments below are for children who will be entering the 8th grade in Fall 2015. It is advised that parents purchase a 3ring binder that students can use to journal their reading assignments ("My Reading Notebook") . These notebooks can be purchased
at Walmart or other stores that sell school supplies. The purpose for the notebook is for students to write their assignments and
maintain these assignments throughout the years. Students in grades 6-9 should use college ruled paper and blue/black ink for these
assignments until their 10th grade year when the assignments will be typed using a computer.
If possible, you should purchase your own copies of the novels. It is a tremendous advantage to be able to take notes in the
margins and underline or highlight notable passages. Should you study these novels again in college, your own annotated
and highlighted copies will be invaluable. These books are available at local bookstores, as well as through online retailers
such as Amazon.com.
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Students should read at least 60 minutes per day.
All students are required to read the first two books on the list. After reading To Kill a Mockingbird the student should answer
the essay questions below in the My Reading Notebook.
After reading Night the student will complete listed assignments shown below in the My Reading Notebook.
ASSIGNED BOOKS
Book 1: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Write the answers to the following questions in complete sentences.
1. Parenting. What kind of parent is Atticus Finch? Describe the values he seeks to instill in
his children through the lessons he teaches Jem and Scout directly and those he
teaches by his example.
2. Big Ideas. What are the big ideas or themes of To Kill a Mockingbird? Consider what the
novel teaches about justice, prejudice, courage, attitudes towards those who are
different from us (e.g. The Riddle Scale), race relations, etc.
3. Character and Moral Development. Choose either Jem or Scout. In what ways does
Jem or Scout change and grow throughout the novel? For example, at the beginning of
the novel, Jem and Scout are afraid of the Radley place, but by the end, Scout fearlessly
walks Boo up to his front porch. What change has taken place in Scout that allows her to
walk with Boo? Additionally, how do Jem’s or Scout’s morals develop throughout the
novel? What stage(s) of Kohlberg’s moral development best describes Jem’s or Scout’s
current level?
4. Jim Crow and Race in the South. Not only does race divide the town of Maycomb, it also
dictates the ways in which characters conduct themselves in relationships. What are the
hidden rules of conduct the people of Maycomb follow because of race? How does race
structure relationships in terms of power, language, and social status? Lastly, is Harper
Lee challenging the status quo about race relations through To Kill a Mockingbird (is her
novel political?) or is she merely describing life as it is in Maycomb?
Book 2: Night by Elie Wiesel
Assignment for Night: Written Response
After you read each part, respond to the following questions and prompts. Write your answers in
complete sentences on notebook paper.
Part 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Part 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
Part 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Part 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Describe Moishe the Beadle.
Why do you think none of the people in the village, including
Wiesel, believed Moishe when he returned?
Cite examples of how the Jewish citizens of Sighet began to
lose their rights.
What is a ghetto?
Why did the citizens resist the truth, even when it was in front of
them?
Describe the conditions in the train (at the end of the chapter).
Explain, “Our eyes were opened, but too late.” Where was the
train at this point?
What was foreshadowed by Madame Schacter’s nightmare? Do
you think she is a madwoman or a prophet? Why?
Why do you believe the passengers silenced Madame
Schacter?
Where did the train finally stop?
When questioned by the SS Officers, why did Elie lie about his
age and occupation?
What was the horrifying sight that Elie at first disbelieved?
Explain what Elie meant when he said, “Never shall I forget
these flames which consumed my faith forever.”
How had Elie changed in a short time?
What was Elie’s first impression of Auschwitz after leaving
Birkenau?
What sort of identification was used on the prisoners?
Why was the prisoner in charge of Elie’s block removed from
the position?
What were the prisoners’ rations at each meal?
What was Bela Katz forced to do once he was chosen for his
strength?
What were the objectives of the medical examinations?
Why were the Jewish musicians not allowed to play music by
Beethoven?
Describe one of Idek’s bouts of madness?
What happened when Elie refused to give his crown to Franek?
What was the end result?
During one of the preliminary “ceremonies” for a hanging, what
did Juliek whisper to Elie? What does this suggest?
During one hanging, Elie and the other prisoners cried. What
made this hanging different from the others?
Part 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Part 6
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Part 7
1.
2.
3.
Part 8
1.
2.
3.
Why didn’t Elie fast on Yom Kippur?
What advice was Elie given to pass the selection process?
Why was Elie placed in the hospital?
Why was the camp to be evacuated?
What did Elie learn of the fate of those who stayed behind
in the hospital?
What happened to anyone who could not keep up with the
march?
How did Zalman die?
What horrible realization did Elie come to concerning
Rabbi Eliahou and his son?
How did Elie respond to this?
What was Juliek’s last act?
How did Elie help his father when they were on the train?
Describe the scene Elie witnessed between the father and
son?
How many got out of the wagon? Where had they arrived?
Explain how the father/son roles had been reversed
between Elie and his father.
Why was Elie’s father being beaten?
What did Elie think of the advice given to him by the head
of the block?
Part 9
1.
2.
3.
What happened on April 5th?
What was the resistance movement?
What did the prisoners do when they were freed?
Book 3:
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Choose one book from the following:
Animal Farm – George Orwell
The Old Man & the Sea – Ernest Hemingway
Old Yeller – Fred Gipson
I know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
The Pearl – John Steinbeck
After reading, write a summary of the book in the My Reading
Notebook. Include plot, setting, main characters, major turning
point in the book and the ending. Additionally, explain how you
would have re-written the ending of the book if you had been
the author.
8th grade READINESS
Every child is special and unique and develops at their own pace; however, there are certain skills and knowledge sets that
we as teachers feel are essential for social and academic growth, development, and achievement in school.
RISING 8TH-GRADERS will be expected to write in all subject areas. Students will write in complete sentences and
paragraphs and will work to improve their short answer and multi-paragraph responses during the school year.
We expect students who are entering 8th-grade to know or to be able to do certain things that indicate that the child is
ready for 8th-grade concepts. The summer will be a good time to review or learn the following:
ENGLISH
1. Recite and/or write the following prepositions:
ABOUT
ABOVE
ACROSS
AFTER
AGAINST
ALONG
AMONG
AROUND
AS
AT
BEFORE
BEHIND
BELOW
BENEATH
BESIDE
BETWEEN
BEYOND
BY
DESPITE
DOWN
DURING
EXCEPT
FOR
FROM
IN
INSIDE
INTO
LIKE
NEAR
OF
OFF
ON
OUT
OVER
PAST
THROUGH
TO
TOWARD
UNDER
UNTIL
UP
WITH
WITHIN
WITHOUT
Science
1. Review States of Matter.
2. Review basic math operations (addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division).
3. Know how to isolate (solve) for a variable.
4. Know how to plot points on the coordinate
plane.
5. Know the following words and their
definitions:
ATOM
ENERGY
TEMPERATURE
MATTER
LIGHT
GRAVITY
ELECTRICITY
MASS
WEIGHT
2. Analyze sentences and be able to identify the following
parts: subjects, verbs, adjectives, adverbs,
conjunctions, interjections, direct objects, indirect
objects, predicate nominatives, and predicate
adjectives.
Social Studies
Geography
 Review states and capitals of the U.S.
 Review continents and oceans of the world
Georgia History
 List the 44 Presidents of the U.S. and dates in office
 Know the three branches of U.S. government and their
chief constitutional offices
Know how to create an MLA bibliography using book or
internet article sources.
Math
1. Know multiplication tables up to 12x12.
2. Know the order of operations.
3. Be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide
integers, fractions, and decimals.
8th-Grade Supply List
for a Successful
2015-2016 School Year
3
Three-ring Binders (1 ½-inch or 2-inch)
Several packs
Loose-leaf Paper for Binders (college-ruled)
3 packs
Dividers (five-tabs each)
1 pack or tablet
Graph Paper
6
Spiral Notebooks (one-subject, 70-pages, college-ruled)
4
Composition Notebooks (traditional, black/white marbled cover)
4 packs
Index Cards, 3x5 ruled, 300-count
1 ream
Plain White Copy Paper
1 pack
Pencils (mechanical or wooden – Please purchase additional lead or a covered,
hand-held sharpener.)
1 pack
Blue or Black Pens (similar to BIC Round Stic Pens or Pentel R.S.V.P. Ballpoint
Stick Pens with Grip)
1 pack
Red Pens
1 pack
Crayola Markers
1 pack
Colored Pencils
1 pack
Highlighters (Various Colors)
1 pack
Dry Erase Markers (Please give these to Mrs. Johnson. Students will use
individual dry-erase boards during class; the dry erase markers will be stored in
the classroom.)
1
12-inch Ruler (Metric/English)
1
Pencil Pouch
1 pair
Small Scissors
2
Glue Sticks
1
USB Flash Drive (optional)
HOMEROOM WISH LIST (CONTRIBUTIONS) Thank you! 
o Facial Tissue
o
o Clorox Wipes
o
o Hand Sanitizer
Paper Towels
Band-Aids